Another "End the Neglect" post addresses the need for global health advocates to "integrate work against a number of diseases to be the most effective and truly change our world." According to the blog, "Health centers, expertise, treatments and the distribution of needed tools could be coordinated between efforts to fight both NTDs and malaria. This combining of treatments can reduce anemia-caused morbidity and mortality for less than 10% additional cost. That isn't just goodwill, it's good economic sense" (Green, 10/28).
Blog: U.S. Navy's Involvement In Global Health
The CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy's blog covers an event exploring the U.S. Navy's engagement in global health. Topics discussed included: Operation Continuing Promise, the Fourth Fleet's program for health outreach to the Americas and the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery's work on training and treatment policies. The post also includes a podcast interview Captain James Terbush (10/27).
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Examines Role Stigma Plays In Commitments To Neglected Tropical Diseases
The "labeling of some neglected tropical diseases as 'stigmatizing' may indeed increase political commitment to these diseases, but it also bears some risks. Research can easily end up confirming previous assumptions, i.e., that it is the social stigma associated with the disease that leads to social isolation, hampers access to care, and reduces treatment adherence," write the authors of a PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases symposium piece. "[W]hile supporting current appeals to place stigma on researchers' and implementers' agendas, we strongly caution against uncritically using 'stigma' as an all-explaining concept in public health" (Ribera et al., 10/27).
Blog: PEPFAR Hasn't Achieved Country-Ownership Yet
"I can buy result-based accountable approach and engagement of all sectors and might even be sold on the idea of good governance. But I am sorry, I can't swallow the idea that PEPFAR exemplifies the principles of country-ownership," according to "Karen Grepin's Global Health Blog" in response to a Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes commentary about PEPFAR. According to Grepin, though PEPFAR "has changed the game in global health in many good ways Real country ownership is a lot more than contracting with local NGOs and informing the country about operational plans" (10/27).
PLoS Pathogens Examines Past, Future Of TB Research
"Renewed efforts in tuberculosis (TB) research have led to important new insights into the biology and epidemiology of this devastating disease. Yet, in the face of the modern epidemics of HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and multidrug resistance - all of which contribute to susceptibility to TB -global control of the disease will remain a formidable challenge for years to come," write the authors of a PLoS Pathogens review article that examines the past and future of TB research (Comas/Gagneux, 10/26).
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